Sorry, guys, we are going to skip the next installment of the Innkeeper. Nothing is wrong, the mammogram was normal – thank you to everyone who emailed – it’s just that we are working full speed on Hugh to finish in time for our deadline and because we are in the finale, it’s very hard to switch gears at this point. We have an action-packed scene coming up for Maud, and we want to do it justice. So we will see you next week.
But we do have a consolation bribe available for you this Friday. Click here to read the first two chapters of Magic Triumphs. Please keep in mind that the chapters haven’t been through the copyedit and will contain grammatical mistakes. They will be replaced with cleaned up versions once the book has been properly edited. Also, it is a massively long excerpt, so please be patient with the page load.
Kate has come a long way from her origins as a loner taking care of paranormal problems in post-Shift Atlanta. She’s made friends and enemies. She’s found love and started a family with Curran Lennart, the former Beast Lord. But her magic is too strong for the power players of the world to let her be.
Kate and her father, Roland, currently have an uneasy truce, but when he starts testing her defenses again, she knows that sooner or later, a confrontation is inevitable. The Witch Oracle has begun seeing visions of blood, fire, and human bones. And when a mysterious box is delivered to Kate’s doorstep, a threat of war from the ancient enemy who nearly destroyed her family, she knows their time is up.
Kate Daniels sees no other choice but to combine forces with the unlikeliest of allies. She knows betrayal is inevitable. She knows she may not survive the coming battle. But she has to try.
For her child.
For Atlanta.
For the world.
Thank you! I’m not sure if this makes the wait for Magic Triumphs easier or not, but it is greatly appreciated!
So kind is this bribe accepted
And when at the end
I found no further page to turn…
I found staring at the screen
Did nothing to help
THE BLOODY ANTICIPATION!!!
Thank you
I love this so much. Can’t wait to buy the book!!
All the feels. Creepy, sweet, scary, funny. It is going to be a hell of a book. Can’t wait.
A very good bribe 🙂
I second that! Tears in my eyes from the birth.
So excited to see Derek getting some page time front and center. Can’t wait for this book!!!!!! Thanks for the preview!
You monster, you sadist, you articulate savant, you absolute wonder of a person/writing duo. How can I wait for this book, how can I survive knowing that this is the last one? You are what I want to be when I grow up.
Ditto – every bit of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, that’s what I call a BRIBE! Thank you!
Love this so much. I can’t wait for this book, but am so sad for their main story to be wrapped up. Thank you two so much.
Sweet, It covered all the emotions and then some. Just wow.
Thanks for the bribe.
Well I guess I can forgive no Innkeeper today because the substitute was freaking awesome. Thank you
Bribe accepted.
You should do a spin off based on the biohazard unit and its crew. Humour, adventure, gross things….all the elements of an adventure
I can literally say nothing…I am gobsmacked I am in awe I am in denial [still can’t accept knowing its the last book] I AM SO VERY EXCITED!!! CHIIIIIIIII Its going to be MAGNIFICENT!!!!
Omg wonderful & very excited. Cant wait. Counting down the days?
I’m still upset about how Raphael told Kate off like that. I realize it was for Ascanio’s sake, but Ascanio better has the balls to face Kate and tell her directly what he wants. I know it’s not like they won’t meet again but it still hurts. Even for me who read it from the point of view as a reader. I hope small retribution (because I still adore Ascanio-Kate’s funny banters) shall come and knock some senses to their thick heads. So what if Raphael is an alpha and act like a ruthless one, but telling Kate to cut off Ascanio’s employment ties like that; it irked me to no end. Cider or no cider.
Honestly, ever since Curran stepped down as Beast Lord, at times Raphael has been getting under my skin for his treatment (direct or not) towards Kate and Curran. The couple might not mind it much since Raphael is a savage businessman, their ally, etc etc. But imho, he already lost quite a lot cookie points from me for some of his attitude.
It might be just me. I’m sorry if other readers and fans might be offended. I think I need to get a fresh air.
Yes, it it like this world is my neighbor, so you know, one gets involved. I kinda wonder if Ascanio might get his own back at Raphael at some point. I hope he doesn’t risk his life.
Raphael is doing Ascanio a favor. Ascanio would not leave Kate on his own, but he would not be satisfied with Cutting Edge. Kate knew this was coming since Aunt B set it up years ago.
I totally agree with you. I never liked Jim since his treatment of Kate from the beginning. I don’t know why I was surprised how he and Raphael cheated Curran from his personal shares of the Pack businesses. I thought leftover loyalty and appreciation for all Curran did those years and getting the formula to prevent loupism would count. Curran said the reclamation business brings in millions. Money Raphael was Not willing to part. So Jim and Raphael were Only willing to give the Pack’s shares of the Mercenary Guild, a sinking ship. I lost total respect for both of them.
I think Raphael is going behind Ascanio’s back. He wants Kate to break the loyalty/bond of Ascanio. He doesn’t want to be the bad guy. If Ascanio wasn’t smart and an asset to the Bouda Clan, I bet Ascanio would still be working with Kate.
I don’t know if I believe that Raphael is actually going behind Ascanio’s back to speak to Kate, but that’s a great point about Jim and Raphael only giving shares of the Mercenary Guild to Curran (but I’m glad Curran was able to turn that organization around).
As for Jim, I also really, really dislike him. I haven’t liked him since the beginning because he has never (or rarely) shown loyalty to Kate, even after all she has done for shapeshifters. He blamed Kate for Dali getting stabbed, although Jezebel was part of Clan Bouda before Kate had ever been to the Keep and had no control over that situation. He doesn’t share information with her unless she threatens him (like when she was still in the Order) or if he really needs her for something. He doesn’t apologize for his behavior or seem to care if she is hurt (emotionally) or not. He uses the excuse that she is not a shapeshifter, but other shapeshifters have shown loyalty or have been supportive of her, even the ones who have not known her for as long as he has (e.g., Doolittle, Aunt B, even Mahon eventually!), …. I get so mad at Jim every time I re-read the KD books, ugh…
Do you think Ascanio should stay with Kate? Or that he wants to? I mean, has Raphael been cleverly keeping him away from Kate against his will? (Playing out that scenario in my mind is amusing as hell, but I don’t see either Raphael or Andrea having the patience for it. He’s valuable, sure, but if he wanted to stay with Kate, it would be so much easier to let him do so!)
Here’s a thing with interns and proteges – it’s your job to help them grow into the people they want to be. Not who you want them to be, and definitely not your permanent underlings because having permanent underlings is convenient. Kate isn’t trying to play on those bonds of loyalty – she’s just busy with other stuff and could use the help. But it’s the kind of situation that can form easily, especially when there’s a power differential (and love and gratitude and all that, reinforcing the tie)… and it can get corrupt and toxic as hell.
Or to put it another way – what would Roland do? And then, thinking about that, what should Kate do? It’s all of a piece with walking away from ruling Atlanta, in a way.
(I’m super opinionated about this, I’m afraid. My birth family had wretched internal politics, and sometimes made demands on loyalty that I consider unethical – and just gross, and with some painful consequences. And I’ve seen far too many bad examples of this socially, the most simple case being where a charismatic person collected a group a insecure people and encouraged them to be dependent. Though all the bad examples can be instructive.)
But what would have Curran done with all the money? Maybe it was meant to give him something to feel useful, how would he have fared without this opportunity?
Jim is ruthless, so is Raphael, but maybe they tried to do the best for the pack and for Curran both. Curran still had enough to by his whole neighborhood…
Concerning Ascanio, yes I think Raphael is acting without Ascanio’s input, but that’s his role as alpha (and parental figure). If Ascanio was able to ask him to do so, he would be able to go ask Kate himself, if he asked Raphael to tell her, it would negate all this “he likes you too much and is too much loyal to be able to leave you”.
But at the same time, i don’t accept this crap about working with Kate preventing him from rising within the clan. Kate is a friend of the clan, all boudas know her and know she was respected by aunt B, and she’s their alpha best friend, so Ascanio could work for both (he couldn’t work for Jim though).
I don’t know if that’s where I’d look for the key to that interaction. Jim was understandably upset, because Curran stepping down not only put him in a hard job (that, okay, which he also wanted, but people get to have mixed feelings) but more to the point meant Curran was going to take all his toys and leave, leaving the pack financially crippled. I don’t think it’s unfair for Jim, as the new Beastlord, to be a bit put out at this outcome for the organization Curran spent the last many years building up.) Raphael… I suppose I see him as someone who looks as business as play. I mean, he’s in it for the best deal, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s personal. (I am thinking of a relative, again, but Raphael is so much more amiable…)
But that’s just background. The key is before the deal is presented. The neighborhood is bought, the land is secured, and Curran… he’s pretty happy not being the Beastlord, but remember the bit about him missing making it work? He’s getting a little bored. Cutting Edge is Kate’s thing. He can dabble in it, but it doesn’t really play to his devious and domineering strengths.
I think under other circumstances, Curran would have refused, there would have been some protracted process of growling back and forth over a few months, possibly punctuated by exchanges of information through back channels over coffee (I’m thinking Kate, Dali and Andrea here…) and eventually something equitable would have been hammered out. I mean, do you really think Curran would have let himself be cheated? The reason this didn’t happen is that Curran started wondering what he could make of the Mercenary Guild, and the idea caught his imagination. (I suppose there’s a question around whether Jim anticipated this?)
I do hope… hm, I’m not sure that Jim getting his head out of his ass is quite what I’m aiming at here. Learns to use his words? Jim has had a pretty lousy time of it the last bit, and his actions strike me as consistent with his character. I don’t see Dali is likely to allow herself to be pulled into playing diplomat while Jim’s failing his plays well with others role, at least as a regular thing.
I think Raphael was being on the level. He wouldn’t have been so unhappy had he not been – Kate is a friend, and his mate’s best friend. And Ascanio being young and not up to the job, and Kate being a bit oblivious (or just not having the time to deal with it, and figuring it wasn’t her problem) meant that he ended up interceding in an uncomfortable situation… but one that had been going on for a long time by then.
Throwing the In-Shinar bit in her face… eh, Kate’s super uncomfortable with that, but it doesn’t mean it’s not relevant to the situation. The real discussion is about Ascanio’s future, and that’s a serious factor. (Not to mention a factor that’s relevant to everyone’s future.)
Okay. I will give Raphael the benefit of the doubt. {{gritting teeth}}
I have to agree with Raphael being on the level. And I thinks it’s completely legit that Ascanio himself could never go to her to break that bond; his loyalty wouldn’t permit it. Kate recognizes Ascanio has become valued because of her contributions in building his character and strengths. Aunt B giving him to Kate was a form of fostering, similar to the Middle Ages, and it worked as it was meant to. I think everyone put this off as long as they could but now it’s needed for Ascanio and that’s how Kaye could let go; for Ascanio and no one else.
I woke up the next day. My mind feels clear and refreshed. Then I re-read what I said yesterday and contemplated other’s opinions on this… nope. I still can’t get over this nagging slightly upset feeling. I will wait until the full book is officialy released and read/savour it thoroughly. Thank you all for your offered perspectives. Most makes sense. But maybe sense is often not one with the heart.
I don’t claim to have an all seeing eye, so hey 🙂
(Though I did construct one once, out of dissected organs and pipette tips…)
Nah, some of your explanations almodt swayed me. It really brought a new perspective that didn’t occur to me before. So thank you! 🙂
*almodt : almost
Wait a minute. Dissected organs?
It’s one of my teaching preps? I do a lot of work in soft body biomechanics. Recently, largely in the feeding grasper of Aplysia californica (a sea slug. Science – it’s soooo sexy. *sigh*) So, it used to be that one of the things I’d do with new-ish research students is take a dissected buccal mass (there are always extras), dissect out the grasper, and then rig it out as kind of a puppet so they could get an intuitive feel for the dynamics. And since it’s all made of a bunch of squiggly stuff, the first thing we’d do it mount the two large firm muscles on the side to a firm base, that still gave us access from all sides. So, an early student and I came up with the idea of using a couple of large pipette tips (the grasper is maybe a centimeter across, if it’s a big one).
My student looked at this intermediate stage of the prep, and intoned “It is the Eye Of Sauron!” …and we both lost it. (I suppose the technically it’s just one organ…)
You know, that sounds completely fascinating to me!!! I LOVED all the labs I had when I was premed. Even the things that grossed out everyone else, just interested me. I also loved the Sauron remark! My kind of humor! Tylikat, you sound like you have such an extensive and interesting background!!! ?
FWIW, these are students working in the lab, rather than lab classes (oh, I wish – I taught one cool neurobiology lab class a few times, but the amount of effort for the number of students we could have in it made it not work for our current enrollment.) I am going to miss my pre-meds, though (well, mostly! I used to tell my anatomy students that they were totally free to challenge for additional points, but I wouldn’t even talk to them until they had a citation in the primary literature to support their claim. Cut down on the whining!) Pulling students into a working environment, and getting them involved in research both in a hands on way and involved in experiment design and problem solving has been some of the most rewarding part of my work here. I don’t entirely know what to except from MechE.
You’d probably love the lab culture. After I hacked together the above image (from bits I’ve used for other things) I posted it to FB, and the original student, who’s now a veterinarian popped up to comment on how much she missed her sluggies, and another then started casting the LotR entirely as marine invertebrates. (Except for Shelob. She can be a vertebrate.)
For a moment there, I thought it was dissected bodies of… human. I did some lab works for my physic, biology, and chemistry classes back then in high school. Some of the experiments are interesting but mostly my group mates took over the deeds because either I was too impatient or I messed up the work. In the end I often wrote the final reports because I like describing and organizing the steps and details.
Once I was in chemistry lab and one of my friend made an NaCl* stone or stone something exploded because she put the tiny, tiny stone at the washbasin which made the stone interacts with oxygen (O2) and water (H2O). Then boom. Fortunately no one was injured because beside my friend’s group, other groups haven’t finished their chemistry experiment yet. At that time I was in charge of experimenting with the tiny stone too and my hand trembled when I returned it to my teacher after the explosion fiasco.
*cmiiw it was so long time ago and I endep up majoring in design after high school
I left the language ambiguous because I have a bit of a perverse sense of humor, but that’s a bit more macabre than I was aiming for!
One of the things I like about being in a working lab is that there’s room for all kinds of different talents and working styles. Some people are doing almost completely programming, others electrophysiology, others microsurgery, or coming up with novel experimental devices out of legos and modeling clay (I’m so not joking). If someone is bright and really interested, you figure out what they’re good at and what holds their interest, and find a project that’s a good match. (With the caveat that there is a certain amount of frustration and tedium in all of it!) I do a little of everything because I’m weird and obsessive, but most people are more sensible. And this is just our lab – obviously, all kinds of lab, all kinds of work. (Though I’ve still taken very few lab classes, so I’m pretty clueless on that.)
That sounds like it was metallic sodium? Impressive stuff! There’s a cool video of stock of it being dumped in lake (that poor lake…) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY7mTCMvpEM …which reminds me that I really need to see if my former housemate left a chunk of it in the basement when if moved out.
Oh yes, I watched the video.. and ended up watching another video to make sure it was that tiny explosive stone called sodium hehe. Originally our experiment is to have the sodium dissolved in some liquid (not water) and counted the time it took to dissolve. My teacher forgot to mention that we need to return the remaining sodium stone and not just discard it somewhere like the washbasin. In the video I saw the explosion is in white smoke, the one I witnessed was mostly all grey, black, and orange. No hint or white smoke. It looked like an unnatural 3D animation explosion turned real. For a second I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Oh, I also like doing the drawing during biology lab experiment. Although most of the shapes were irregular or didn’t really make sense like when I draw the paramecium, leave’s structure, cells, etc. etc.
Sounds like your teacher was quite remiss I’m not giving instructions on what to do with the stone after the experiment, especially for something as reactive as metallic sodium!! I taught physical science for 23 years, so know how important safety is as well as giving COMPLETE instructions to students performing lab experiments. Glad it was a small piece and a small explosion, lol!! It certainly was memorable though, wasn’t it!! Tylicat, I really like the sound of the lab you work in! ?
Do y’all think that maybe the adventure Ascanio had w Raphael that he didn’t elaborate on has some deeper bearing on the need for Ascanio to develop into his own alpha and continue to play an important role in Kate’s life?
I hope so! I like the sound of the last sentence. It made remember in previous book when he wants to get ‘stronger’ so he can protect everyone he loves better. Ouch, I think some of the dust invaded my eyes.
I thought Raphael handled it very well. He said Ascanio would not be able to leave Kate himself because of loyalty, but both Kate and Raphael know Ascanio wants more out of life than he could get form Cutting Edge. Yes, Kate did most of the hard work shaping Ascanio, but she knew that from moment Aunt B told her. I just wonder if Derek and Ascanio ever got a civil working relationship going.
I am also. He might have been trying to help Ascanio, but really he isn’t. My parents would have made me go to Kate. My job, my responsibility. Of course it would be very hard, if it was me, it would have taken a couple of months before I got the courage up to talk to her, but that is part of growing up, being an adult. Is Raphael always going to step in when Ascanio is in a hard spot with friends? As a father figure to Ascanio I can see how Raphael would want to help. All parents want to make life easier for their kids, but they cannot, kids need to learn.
As I write this I begin to wonder if it is part of the make up of a Bouda, the loyalty, not leaving Kate. Maybe the Author Lords will clarify?
Amazing. Absolutely amazingly awesome. All hail the Author Lords!
That was torture…sweet, glorious torture. I need the rest of the book! Thank you for sharing with us today
Such a bribe ……. thank you. I think I had better read all the Kate books beginning to end to stave off incipient withdrawal symptoms.
Bribe gratefully accepted.
It’s so bitter sweet to have Ascanio grow up and leave the nest. I’m like “*sniff* My baby’s all grown up and savin China!”
But I’m grateful for Derek. But yeah.
Ha ha ha ha!
This was an incredible gift! I get all misty eyed at the thought of this being the last Kate Daniels book. But! I can start rereading the series from the very beginning, in order to prepare.
Thank you for all the hard work you both do.
Why oh why does it have so good.
Bribe accepted thank you!
Now I want both…Kate and Maud….
Much eye rolling and stamping feet… tantrum start…not able to get my way ?
Good news on mammogram ??
That was a hell of bribe! So bummed that we have to wait months for the full book, but it’ll give me time to re-read the rest of the series (something I always do for a series I love). Hard to believe it’s going to the be the last Kate Daniels book, it’ll be the end of an era.
Glad to hear the mammogram came back clean!
Love the prologue, Conlan’s birth was not easy for Kate and even exhausted that maternal instinct is already in overdrive from Roland. I’m in love with this mischievous child already, can’t wait to see his adventures. Raphael’s being proud of baby B beating a wolf pup bloody, aahh the joys of being a shapeshifter parent!!! I love how Kate takes in every and anyone that would be considered an outcast and nurture them and in the end doesn’t stop their progress. Ascanio loss is felt but Derrick is not going anywhere. Thanks very much for this, I look forward for Maud’s action scene next week. ??
Well I can picture Conlan pouncing on Kate^^. But I looked forward to see Kate managing her pregnancy, and the first months of Conlan, so many things could happen^^.
Curran calms kids with his alpha “aura”, but he should feel lost sometimes too (my husband finally discovered that his “magical hands” don’t work all the time to quiet the kid, how hard on him^^), for no other reason that because it would be so funny ^^, but well, also because it would be fairer (yes , world is not fair, and kids are even less so, but well… it’s a book, we can dream)
I feel like someone just broke up with me and I’m not sure how to feel. Wow, idk why losing Ascanio hurt so much. I guess I thought the Wonder Team would always stick together. Damn I’m so excited for this summer!!!
Mom: Honey, why do you look so upset and gloomy since yesterday morning?
Me: *sniffs* someone just broke up with me ((secretly re-read chapter 2 from KD’s 10 excerpt and feel sad-disbelief-hurt-and-sad again))
Mom: ….
Mom: ((Since when did you have a boyfriend?))
Thank you.
Thank you for this fantastic bribe! Thank you also for letting us know all is fine regarding the mammogram- very good news!
I am in a highly conflicted state. I want to dive right into this bribe and devour it, but know that it will end all too soon and I will be left hanging until the book comes out. Inconceivable!!! Then of course comes the knowledge that when the book does finally come out, once I finish it (which will be all too soon for me), that will be it as well!! Oh what exquisite torture!!! To read or not to read? THAT is the question. Obviously my self control will break at some point and I will plunge in, but I am trying to hold off on reading the bribe as long as possible – knowing every minute I hold off is one minute less I will be in agony waiting for the book release.
Such is your incredible talent as authors, that you get your readers to care so much about these characters (even while we are still conscious that they are fictional characters – we are not crazy after all, at least not most of us!) that we want to spend more time with them and know what is happening with them. I hope I made sense with this and don’t come across as some deranged stalker!
I truly hope that Hugh’s book (much as I look forward to it) is not the only spin off from the Kate series you are going to do. There are so many wonderful characters that I would love to spend more time with. Fellow fans, can I get an Amen?
Thank you for your immense talent, your superb and always enjoyable books, and for being so generous with your fans! I am very glad to know the results of the mammogram were good, and am still sending positive and supportive thoughts and energy to daughter #1, that she find the right job for her that will make her happy. I hope that the finale for Hugh’s book flows smoothly and as effortlessly as possible – allowing you to finish well before the deadline with as little stress as possible. ?
Wow. No “Amen”s from anyone? Ok. I can only come up with a couple of reasons why – and all of them make me want to go back to just reading the comments other people make and keep my mouth shut. That is probably what I should just do. The reasons I didn’t get “Amen”s from anyone that I came up with are:
1. No one read my comment (or all of it).
2. Not one single member of the BDH wants any books about any of the other characters in the Kate Daniels series (other than Hugh).
3. I have made some comment somewhere that people really did not like and I have become a pariah with the BDH, and no one wants to in anyway show any kind of support for me or any comment I make.
Reason #1 is the one I most wish for as being why I didn’t get any support from the BDH in hoping for more spin off books.
I know you, the Authorlords, are quite busy enough with what is already on your plates, and you have your own plans for future books and storylines, and don’t need someone squawking about the end of a wonderful series that you have already devoted a great deal of time to, or making requests as to what they personally would like to see you write about. I just hoped that if enough of your fans clambered for more about some of the other characters, then you might – just might, give some thought to doing more spin offs.
But, whatever you do decide to write, I am positive it will be fantastic, and I am equally certain that I shall purchase it and enjoy it mightily. ?
Amen! 🙂
Thank you Fera!! ??
Hahahaha, I had thought “Amen, amen, amen!” in passing when I originally read your comment, but I was already running late for something at the time… And I always want more, more, MORE! (spittle flying, excuse me) when it comes to an Ilona Andrews book. Amen!
What she said. Often a silent reader also but never stop hoping and praying for more authors’ books<33
?
Pope’s!! That was supposed to be a smiley face!!
Ok, just going from one mistake to another – going to stop while I am semi-ahead!
Thank you. ? I guess I don’t need to eat worms then curl up into the fetal position in the dark! ? Just kidding! That WAS a bit over the top, wasn’t it? The “thank you” was completely sincere though. ?
The worms remark was just a bit of poking fun at myself – NOT to be taken ?!!!!!
Not to be taken “seriously” was the word accidentally dropped in previous remark – and Oops was what I intended instead of Pope’s. Most people probably figured this out on their own – but though I would put forth the clarification just in case. Going to stop now before I make another snafu and this becomes an eternal loop of snafu then correction then snafu! ?
Your comment has been read and noted. 🙂
All hail the Authorlords!!!! ?♀️ Thank you. Your graciousness knows no bounds!
May your creative juices flow with no abate and may your offspring prosper in health and happiness! ?
Careful Ilona! You will make us all needier for a personal response!!???
Lol!! Wasn’t looking for personal response from Ilona, just some support from the BDH requesting more spin off books containing characters from the KD universe. Of course, did not mind at all getting a response from Ilona! ?
Thank you for the bribe, it was definitely worth it.
Thank you for thinking about us..even though you are so busy….the bribe is really tantalising… cannot wait to for more Maud, Kate and Hugh!!!
My country was part of Dilmun, back in the mists of time. I didn’t realise I was so sentimental about it until I saw Conlan’s middle name.
Thank you, this was a wonderful bribe.
Truly excellent bribe 😀 REALLY looking forward to next week’s Maud.I get the idea from your blog that family/writing /life is like juggling chainsaws with the occasional
grenade as a change of pace O-0 I will miss Kate’s adventures, amazing family
she collected, the unique world you and Gordon willed into existence filled with the weird, the bizarre and the downright disturbing(pinched from Simon R Green.
Your books belong in a pile that follows me in all my moves.Tresured reread to rhe point of disintegration. Willreread them til I die.The join Tolkien, Lois McMaster bujold, Terry Pratchett, John Ringo and Simon R Green.I wish you both health, happiness, and good luck.Think about taking the family on a cruise to destress before jumping into the next project.You don’t want to burn out…Good Luck and Best Wishes for the works as yet unborn ♥
What a great bribe! Counting the days til release.
Wow. Many thanks. Looking forward to release date.
Bribe accepted.
Excellent start. I am anxious to learn what talent baby Conlon displays, who will replace Ascenio as the new trainee, whether Rowena may find happiness, if Kate will be pregnant again in the near future, if Jim and the tiger have finally mated, where Julie’s career path is going and if it includes Dereck, if our favorite warlock has found a nice girl, and whether Roland will get a chance to babysit his grandson.
I enjoy this series very much. After reading the books, I have listened to the audio books as a delightful way to enrich the stories–at least those audiobooks that I have found.
Thank you for this most excellent bribe! Glad the mammogram came out okay. Have a glass of wine for me.
Great news about the mammogram
Thanks for the bribe – gratefully accepted though I still can’t believe this is the last Kate book – all those wonderful characters most of whom have become old friends but hopefully there will b more spin offs e.g. Derek and even Julie
I’ll definitely b reading the whole series again before delivery of new book
Hope your daughter finds the job she wants
All the best with your new projects and give yourselves a break, even a holiday!
BRIBE, Bribe . . . Bribes are an enticement to condone an action . . .
OH, Oh, oooohh … Bribe, bribe, don’t want no stinkin bribe!!!
Me want Innkeeper!
Want Maud book, completed, edited, ready for owning.
O-O, o k I’m awake. I was dreaming I run the world.
Bribe, bribe,
‘how darest thou put such temptation before me!’ cursest varlet.
I am pure,
I am true,
I’m going to go out of my mind, knowing this is here & I’m waiting.
C U next week.
*My internal dialogue:
‘Oh thank God it was only TWO captivating chapters and not the whole book!
-I have time sensitive things that I have to get done today! ‘
*My out loud voice:
“Thank you for the thoughtful (and market savy) gesture ?. I’m eager for both of the books to launch? and look forward to seeing Maud ? next week. I appreciate you! ?”
Your bribe was so much nicer than Raphael’s!
I’ll admit I’m another who’s liking him less and less as the series progresses. He and Jim make me want to snap. I really can’t see what Andrea or Dali see in them.
I can’t wait to be able to read the whole book, and fully anticipate a marathon Kate Daniels reading extravaganza will follow. (I tend to read the new book, then reread the series from start to finish).
I soooo agree in regards to Jim…. Dali could do way better.
First ,congratulations on your mammogram. Second,thank you for your bribe. So glad to read the baby’s birth with his family . Love the name Conlan, love his relationship with Kate and Curran and his aunt.
Raphael’s relationship with Kate is complicated and I think he is not being fair to Kate and Curran. And the cider bribe is lame.
But I think Raphael is looking out for Ascanio and maybe he is right. It is time for Ascanio to leave the nest .
Looking forward to Maud and Arland having a kickass fight. I know it will be thrilling and funny and the BDH will be going Chiiiii!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you as well! May the luck of the Irish be yours! ??
So glad everything’s okay with the mammogram. This was an amazing, unlooked for and gobbled up too fast gift, in place of Maud. I’ve said it countless times but I still marvel over how fast I’m immersed back into the KD world. Everything else in my everyday world fades into the ether the minute I read the first sentence. It is, always has been and will always be, MAGIC. Thank you.
SOOOOO good. I cannot WAIT for the release! You guys rock!
Wonderful! Can’t wait to read the book!!!!! Happy dance.
Cool. I already have this pre-ordered. I do like Derek – when are you going to do another story with him and Julie?
This was fantastic! Thank you so much.
If you are accepting reader feedback, Doolittle seemed very out of character to be the one pulling that kind of a shenanigan. In my mind he is far too respectful, empathetic, caring, and wise to do something like that without Kate/Curran being informed and consenting. I loved the scene – it bothers me a lot though that Doolittle is the instigator there. I would have rathered he walk in and be almost as pissed off as Kate to have someone take that kind of liberty with one of his charges.
Doolittle is exactly on point.
Was Doolittle standing in the birthing pool?
I’d be surprised if we’ll get any more hints. 😀 I believe something is up with the good doctor. The game is afoot! 😀
(thank you Ilona!)
Hm. Well, it could be than some kind of sufficiently scary thing prompts Conlan to shift at a pivotal point in the book?
Is anyone else as worried about Curran seemingly being gone all of the time? Away from
his son, his wife, his FAMILY without any indication of when he will be returning? It seems so out of character that ever since the FIRST excerpt we had showing him gone I have been freaking out. This one is garnering the same response!
Thank you for this lovely, fantastic bribe! Really enjoyed the read, so much looking forward to KD 10 and Hugh’s book. Such treats coming our way this year, after the Hidden Legacy extravaganza 2017.
So, what happened in Kentucky that Raphael and Ascanio had to deal with?
I am a little bit sad for Kate that Ascanio didn’t speak to her himself about his situation, but maybe it really would be too hard for him. So I think Rapahel did the responsible thing and sorted a potentially bad situation that Andrea and Ascanio couldn’t. I had also gone off Derek a little in the last book, because his criticisms of Kate got on my nerves but I am so glad of his loyalty now. She really needed that culinary treat at that point.
Bribe is acceptable. Inner beast appeased and has descended back into the shadows for another week.
Good news re mammogram.
Thank you for the bribe.. Accepted & welcomed!
Loved this…”Everybody wanted my son to be something more. He was perfect the way he was.”
Do not like Rafael…sounds like an excuse for Clan Bouda to ‘acquire’ Ascanio for their own benefit. One lousy bottle of cider?!! I would think Ascanio is worth more than that.
I wonder if Andrea knows about Rafael’s visit to Kate?
Now, that would be interesting…
Thank you!
That was an excellent surprise and now I am even more eager and impatient for the book to come out later this year ( I was fine before because I was trying not to think about it).
What a tease.
Awesome.